Nicholas (formerly known as The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus)

This is the perfect story to cheer up your child When they find out the truth. my thought is that it was never put on shelves in many bookstores because it might have tipped little believers off, however, it is a shame that it is not in nearly every house because sooner or later they will figure it out and this is the best book to turn a sad child into a child that learns a way to make Christmas special all over again. I first read it in the fifth grade and had already known the truth but it really made me look at Christmas and a whole new way that brought some of the magic back. I had not thought about it in years and then my niece found out and it was really sad seeing such a cheerful kid find the truth several weeks before Christmas through a classmate. I immediately remember the book and thank God I was able to send a copy to my sister and brother-in-law. they said it really saved the day and all that Christmas morning she had a big smile on her face and even spend some of her own money buying her little brother some extra "Santa gifts".

My mother read this book to me every Christmas when I was a child and I read it to my children. I have the original 1947 copy of this book and it’s quite frail. This new addition is the same book and I’m thankful that I can share it with my grandchildren. It answers all the questions about Santa and his life. I love this book!

I read the book when I was in 3rd grade. As time progressed I lost the book but never forgot the story, it has taken 5 decades but I now have the book again.

My mother was given this book as a young girl, and read it every year. She read it to me and my siblings, and then I read it every year in December. I love the story of how Nicholas had a tragic life, but grew up to love all the children in the village, and become Santa Claus. In 1985 I found reprints of this wonderful story and bought six copies. Now I need more copies, and was so glad to find the books to share with loved ones.

I'm not going to give this a bad rating because I should have looked into this more before purchasing. Just want to leave a review in case anyone else is trying to figure out if they want this for their kids. In the first chapter, Nicholas is left with his baby sister that has a high fever, while his mother goes out to fetch the doctor. While he's watching her, she gets colder and colder under the wet cloth on her forehead and dies. Then he finds out a tree fell on his mother while she was gone, and his father died in a fishing accident. Then, at the end, Santa gets so old that he can't do much anymore, so a dad gets caught helping with gifts. Then Santa dies. It has a fairly happy ending. Even though Santa is dead, the stocking get mysteriously filled for children who believe. This might be fine for some children to read, but this would have raised all kinds of questions with my little ones. I'm pretty sure they would have been a little traumatized. I chose not to read it to them and won't be keeping this book. Maybe it would be better for older kids?

I have use this book in my classroom for years for fourth and fifth graders. It’s a nice transition for little kids letting go of their belief in SantaSo I purchased several copies for my children to use on their kids when they reach that point in their beliefs.

I came across a hardcover copy of this book maybe thirty years ago while flea-marketing. I read it each year while teaching, the story always moving me. It's a perfect book for "youngsters " of any age...a perfect book for children and for their parents to read to them. The book is easily a keepsake, a book to pass down through generations. I can't recommend it more highly. It's a treasure.

This is the most loving, gentle story of the Santa Claus legend I have ever read. A wonderful telling of the tale, good for children who still believe in Santa Claus, their older siblings who have learned their elders are the givers, and parents who are looking for a way to explain the transition and to focus on the real meaning of Christmas giving.I have had the 1923 Norwood Press (Norwood, Massachusetts) edition since I was a little girl, and I raised my children on it. I was sharing it with a friend who has grandchildren, and she wanted a copy for them -- we assumed it would be out of print, but I checked on line to see if it was still in copyright before making a photocopy. I'm so grateful it's still in print -- I've just ordered 4 copies to share!

This is a wonderful tale of the man in red. If you do not believe you should.